President calls for national pride

JAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on the nation to take pride in itself and its achievements.

"Let us be proud of ourselves and do the best we can for the country," he told participants of a National Awakening Day celebration on Friday. The event was televised live to Papua, North Sulawesi, Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara.

Susilo urged his fellow Indonesians to remain confident in themselves, saying Indonesia would one day be a developed country.

He warned the nation against becoming pessimistic because of the myriad problems facing the country, saying there were always solutions to problems.

The modest ceremony, which was organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information, was attended by teachers, students and soldiers. -- JP